Merry Christmas! We wake early, have coffee (fantastic coffee from fantastically smart machine) and exchange gifts. Mine to Susannah are tea related (Japanese teapots and cups) and hers to me are slippers and a Nutrient Rescue starter pack. The Nutrient Rescue pack was purchased to help kick start my immunity system, get me stronger and speed up my recovery from cancer and the effects of it’s treatments. After Thursday’s news I think the focus is different but the health benefit still applies so I’ll give it a go.

Next we finish making the trifle for the family gathering. My grandmother made the best Christmas trifle in the world and I used to love it. I have teenage memories of eating leftovers for breakfast the next day (let’s not talk about the copious amounts of  booze in it!). Of course Nana had no written recipe so when she passed away the perfect trifle was gone forever. Since coming back to NZ in 2019 Susannah and I have taken on trifle making duties for Christmas. We don’t use a recipe. Our version is based on taste and memory, nothing else. While it’ll never be Nana’s trifle, I think we do a pretty good second best.

In the early afternoon we video chat to Susannah’s family in Toronto, and Smithers and Victoria in BC, Canada. It’s lovely to see them and catch up a bit. Afterwards I am exhausted and have to have a nap before attempting the big family gathering at Auntie L’s.

I debate about what to wear. There will be some family members I have not seen since last Christmas. So much has changed for me in that time. My irradiated skin is much improved but I still don’t think I can wear a bra so my little KK friend and confidence booster will not save me today.  It’s also way too hot for a hat so I can’t hide my lack of hair, although luckily it has grown in quite fast and while super short (think Sinead O’Connor), at least I’m not completely bald anymore. Finally I decide on a tank top I bought online pre-surgery. It has the musical note of B-flat (Be flat!) on the front together with a breast cancer ribbon. I go sans bra and sans hat. I am what I am, why hide from family?

Christmas when I was growing up was traditionally held at Nana and Grandad’s place and after their time ended Auntie L took on hosting duties. Some things have changed – it’s dinner only instead of all day, there’s no turkey, and gift giving has a new format, but the true meaning of family is still present and numbers have actually grown. This year we miss a couple of people due to Covid, but it’s still a decent turnout at about 30 people.

It’s a nice evening. I’m knackered by the end and know I won’t do much tomorrow, but I have enjoyed being surrounded by my whanau.